Applied Psychology Programmes at UoB

Applied Psychology Programmes at UoB

Daisy s Story Very strict upbringing - frequently beaten by an abusive father Sustains severe facial burns Develops unhelpful beliefs as a child I m no good no one will ever love me People will abuse me - I must not upset them I had better keep busy and keep out of the way Husband s drinking/violence/infidelity Gives in to difficult and demanding children Feels depressed, anxious and cleans obsessively

Daisy s Story At age 30, she goes to GP complaining of feeling unable to cope at home GP prescribes anti-depressant medication Referred to Clinical Psychologist Embarks on weekly psychological therapy: A new understanding of her situation Challenging long-standing beliefs A new experience of interaction Shifts in the way she relates to herself and others Starts to feel and behave differently

Costs and benefits of a mental health career Financial rewards NHS jobs 16-80,000 Opportunity for additional income from private work Personal costs Putting your life on hold until you qualify Responsibility and commitment The impact of working with emotional distress Frustrations of the NHS Pay/terms & conditions in comparison to the private sector Infrastructure Organisational dynamics Public sector issues

What s so great about a mental health career? Diverse nature of work and opportunities Different roles within the job description Different types of clinical presentation to work with Mobility Flexible working Job satisfaction Working at the extremes of human experience Making differences / facilitating change Continuing professional development

Clinical Psychology and CBT Programmes at UoB Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (ClinPsyD) Masters in Research in Clinical Psychology (Mres Clinical) Diploma/masters in CBT

What is Clinical Psychology? Psychology and Health/Illness Understanding and resolving human psychological difficulties Emotional Cognitive Behavioural Applied Clinical Psychology NHS healthcare professionals Across the age range Mental health, learning disability, physical health

What do Clinical Psychologists do? Clinical roles Assessment Psychological therapy/intervention/treatment Advisory roles To other professionals and organisations To families and careers Academic roles The Scientist-Practitioner model Research Teaching and Training

Pathway to becoming a clinical psychologist Undergraduate degree (BPS accredited) Work as an assistant psychologist or other relevant work e.g. in a clinical research area for 1-3 years Apply for 3 year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology 34 training courses approx 3000 applicants for 600 places! Birmingham has 17 places and interviewed 72 out of 600 applicants last year

What does clinical psychology training consist of at Birmingham? Learning the skills to achieve: clinical competence - 5 clinical placements, supervised practice research competence - doctoral thesis academic ability - continuous assessment via clinical practice reports Core competencies formulation, intervention, therapeutic models (CBT plus one other), working with difference and diversity, ethical principles, professional practice, supervision and consultancy Core areas - adult, child, learning disability, older adults (specialist placements e.g. neuropsychology, clinical health psychology

ClinPsyD Entry criteria 1st class degree or a high 2.1 (GPA of 65 or above) Or 2.1 plus a clinically relevant higher degree One year full-time clinically relevant experience, either applying psychological principles in a clinical setting or engaged in research that is relevant to a clinical population Candidates must also have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society. For candidates whose first language is not English or whose first degree was not taught in English there are English language requirements (see UoB website) EU and home students apply via clearing house places are paid by the NHS, trainees receive a salary At Birmingham we have 4 Overseas places available direct application, self-funded

Application process Apply through the clearing house in clinical psychology http://www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/ Packs available from around Aug/Sept for entry in following year Closing date in Dec for entry in following year At Birmingham screening via a written exercise for all applicants February Interviews early April Overseas applicants apply directly to the Universityinterview and written test are via skype

What is CBT? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a specific type of psychological therapy. It is evidence based and well researched it appears in many government guidelines as a first line treatment for mental health issues It has been proved to help treat a wide range of emotional and physical health conditions in adults, young people and children. CBT looks at how we think about a situation and how this affects the way we act. In turn our actions can affect how we think and feel. The therapist and client work together in changing the client s behaviours, or their thinking patterns, or both of these.

How do you become a CBT Therapist? The training for being a CBT therapists is shorter and less broad than training to become a clinical psychologist. None the less it is a very intense training, with CBT trainees being required to attend university whilst also being in a place of employment in which they can practise their CBT skills. University teaches the evidence base and fundamental skills models and approaches to client work. Supervision in CBT is provided in the workplace and also at University. At work trainees learn to put these skills into practice. Assessment is via a range of assignments including tapes of clinical sessions, case reports and essays.

CBT Courses at UoB NHS funded There are some CBT courses at UoB to which students are seconded by their place of work to train. High Intensity Diploma in CBT for this you will need to have a core profession such as mental health nursing or occupational therapy or have equivalent experience KSA route (such as having worked as a PWP). 12 months. Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies (collaborative programme) (Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner). Many recent psychology graduates do this training. 12 months. For these you need to apply for a trainee position within the NHS.

CBT Courses at UoB Direct Application, part -time, self-funded Post Graduate Diploma in CBT- 3 years MSc in CBT 4 ½ years Several entry routes, some allow people with previous experience to get accreditation of prior learning and therefore miss out some modules. From September 2015 we will have 10 places for recent graduates with high 2:1 or 1 st class degree, along with some (voluntary) experience in social/health care settings on the postgrad diploma and MSc course. In years 1 and 2 they will learn basic counselling and CBT skills and apply these on placement within a mental health setting before progressing to learn how to do high intensity CBT.

Getting experience jobs.nhs.co.uk PWP/assistant psychology roles Local NHS departments Research posts Postgraduate research via MSc / PhD Voluntary experience Life experience

Useful websites British Psychological Society www.bps.org.uk/careers BABCP British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies www.babcp.com Clearing House for Postgraduate Course in Clinical Psychology www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp Jobs in the NHS www.jobs.nhs.co.uk Professional organisations

Other sources of information Sources of information and advice re getting on courses British Psychological Society www.bps.org.uk http://www.clinpsy.org.uk/forum/ Psyclick: http://forum.psyclick.org.uk/ Applications to courses - UK Clearing House for Courses in Clinical Psychology www.chpccp.leeds.ac.uk Jobs in clinical psychology The Psychologist BPS appointments memorandum NHS posts - http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ Academic posts http://www.jobs.ac.uk/categories/psychology UOB careers leaflet Getting into Clinical Psychology https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/employability/careers/doc uments/public/c-gettingintoclinicalpsych.pdf